Metal framing system

ABSTRACT

A system and method are provided for framing at least a portion of a wide variety of structures. In each embodiment, the framing system includes a base, which may be attached to a foundation of the structure by conventional means, which preferably comprises at least one rectangular or square metal tube. Alternatively, the base may be made of other metal structures. The framing system further includes a plurality of lower connecting members attached to and extending upwardly from the base and a plurality of upwardly extending support members which are interconnected to the lower connecting members. The framing system may further include an upper member and a plurality of upper connecting members attached to and extending downwardly from the upper member. Each of the support members is also interconnected to one of the upper connecting members, which is aligned with one of the lower connecting members. The interconnections between the support members and the corresponding lower and upper connecting members may be achieved by various alternative configurations, but in each case one member has a reduced end portion which is inserted into a non-reduced end portion of the adjacent member. The reduced end portion is preferably achieved by a roll reduction process.

CROSS REFERENCES

The subject Application claims the priority benefits of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application having Ser. No. 60/040,835 filed on Mar. 19, 1997,entitled “Tool for Swaging Metal Tubing, and Integral Tubular FramingSystem Incorporating Swaged Metal Tubing.”

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to framing systems used in theconstruction of buildings, and more particularly to a metal framingsystem which incorporates hollow metal tubing.

2. Related Art

Known framing systems used in the construction industry are typicallymade of either wood or metal, with wood framing systems being the mostcommon. As is well known, wood framing systems have enjoyed widespreaduse, for instance in the construction of residential homes. Wood framesare typically constructed by connecting pieces of wood, such as 2×4's or2×6's, with nails in a form that creates either the interior or exterioroutline of a structure, or both. In known wood framing systems, allmajor components are typically made of wood, including components whichmay be referred to in the art as the bottom plate, studs, top plate androof trusses. With the exception of roof trusses, which utilize mitercuts on the ends of adjacent pieces of wood to accomplish the desiredangular relationship between adjacent members, most wood framing systemsconsist primarily of straight 2×4's nailed together to define theoutside and inside areas of the structure and to provide the loadbearing support.

Although wood framing systems have enjoyed widespread use, they aresubject to several disadvantages. For instance, the process ofconstructing a wood framing system is relatively slow since all jointswithin the system are typically connected with several nails. Forexample, even if the included roof trusses are pre-assembled, ittypically takes a framing crew of four people between five and sevenworking days to frame a 1,500 square foot house.

Furthermore, the quality of the workmanship associated with theconstruction of wood framing is often poor, especially in conjunctionwith low and moderate priced housing where builder's profit margins arerelatively low and building costs are suppressed as much as possible.The primary result of this poor workmanship is typically the lack ofsquareness in the structure frame which adversely affects theinstallation of other components in the structure.

Other disadvantages associated with wood framing is the flammability ofwood, and the potential for deterioration due to exposure to weather orinsects such as termites or carpenter ants. Another disadvantage is thatthe system strength may be reduced at angled connections which require amiter cut and attachment with either nails or screws. Yet anotherdisadvantage associated with use of wood framing systems is thedepletion of wood as a natural resource.

Although metal framing systems may represent an improvement relative towood framing systems with regard to improved strength and reduceddeterioration, known metal framing systems are also typically subject toone or more disadvantages. For instance, like a wood framing system, theassembly of a metal framing system may be very time consuming since themetal framing system may require nearly as many metal screws as thenails used in a comparable wood framing system to connect adjacent metalcomponents. Moreover, the screws are generally not as quickly insertedas nails, and therefore the metal framed structure may actually requiremore time to assemble than a comparable wood framed structure. These andother disadvantages associated with metal framing systems may be furtherillustrated by the following discussion of known metal framing systems.

Metal framing systems have been used for some time in commercialconstruction and have recently become more popular in residentialconstruction. Known metal framing systems used in these applicationscommonly include metal components which are formed as three-sidedchannels, such as U-channels. For instance, these systems may includevertically extending metal channels, which are inserted into the openside of horizontally extending metal channels used for the bottom andtop members of the metal framing system. The joints between thevertically and horizontally extending members are typically secured withnumerous fasteners such as screws. Additionally, metal straps are oftenutilized to secure the vertically extending channel members to oneanother. Accordingly, the assembly of a metal framing system of thistype may be very time consuming due to the requirement to secure thenumerous fasteners and metal straps.

Another known metal framing system, which is used to frame a carport,utilizes round hollow tubing with one end of each of the round tubingmembers being inserted into the hollow end of an adjacent round tubingmember. The joint between the two round tubing members may then bestabilized with conventional fasteners. The male portion of each jointmay be accomplished by a swaging process to reduce an end portion of thecorresponding round tubing member. Although the foregoing carportframing system has been advantageously utilized, use of round metaltubing makes it difficult to insert fasteners into the tubing jointswhich complicates the assembly of the framing system. Furthermore, insome applications, such as when the carport is placed adjacent to aresidential structure, the carport frame may not be viewed asaesthetically appealing.

It is often more advantageous to use either square or rectangular metaltubing in certain applications. However, the connection of adjacentcomponents of square or rectangular metal tubing has been subject to thefollowing problems. Known methods of reducing square and rectangularmetal tubing include those which utilize one or more dies. With thisform of reduction, one end of the square or rectangular tube is crushedby the force created by various configurations of press equipment, withthe size of the reduction being determined by the die design. Thismethod of end reduction of square and rectangular metal tubing issubject to the following disadvantages. In the first instance, the endreduction of the tubing may require several “hits” or applications ofthe press equipment to achieve the desired reduction, with eachapplication adding to the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, the crushingforce of the press equipment may cause excessive and/or non-uniformdeformation of the tube end. More specifically, one or more sides of thetubing may become concave, thereby reducing the overall strength of thetube and detracting from the smoothness of the transition between theoriginal shape and the reduced end. In certain instances, the excessiveand/or non-uniform deformation may be so severe that the reduced end ofthe tube is not capable of insertion into a tube of the same size priorto reduction, as intended.

Due to the foregoing problems associated with the use of dies to endreduce square and rectangular tubing, connections of adjacent lengths oflike-sized square and rectangular metal tubing has generally beenaccomplished by inserting a smaller tube, of the same shape, inside twoadjacent like-sized pieces of rectangular or square metal tubing, andthen securing the joint by fastening each section of the outer tubes tothe inner tube. Framing systems of this type have been used to framecarports. The inner tube, as well as the required fasteners, add to thecost of this method of joining adjacent sections of square orrectangular metal tubing. Another disadvantage associated with this typeof metal framing system is that the strength of the included joints maybe be limited to the strength of the required fasteners at each joint.

In view of the foregoing disadvantages associated with known wood andmetal framing systems, there is a continuing need for improved framingsystems for use in the construction of a wide variety of buildingsincluding residential and commercial structures.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing needs, the present invention is directed to asimple, cost effective and efficient system and method for framing atleast a portion of a wide variety of structures including, but notlimited to the following structures: residential homes; carports;commercial buildings such as office, retail, mini-storage and industrialbuildings; apartment and condominium buildings; office build-out andcommercial buildings; utility buildings; and modular/kiosk structures.The framing system and method of the present invention utilizes eitherrectangular or square metal tubing, or a combination thereof, andtherefore has several advantages over existing wood framing systems ormetal framing systems utilizing components other than rectangular orsquare metal tubing. For instance, due to the use of rectangular orsquare metal tubing, systems embodying the principles of the presentinvention exhibit improved mechanical strength relative to similar woodframing systems or various metal framing systems such as those whichutilize open channel members.

The ease of assembling various components of the framing system of thepresent invention allows a significant reduction in time, and thereforeof cost, in framing various structures relative to prior wood or metalframing systems. For instance, the speed of assembly and therefore thereduction in cost associated with the apparatus and method of thepresent invention is accomplished by interconnecting various componentsof the framing system by inserting a reduced end portion of one memberor component into an adjacent component which is constructed of alike-sized and similarly shaped metal tube, i.e., either rectangular orsquare, which has not been end reduced. As an example of the time andcost reductions which may be realized using a framing system embodyingthe principles of the present invention, a 1,500 square foot house maybe framed in less than one day using a crew of four people whereas ittypically takes a similar sized crew between five and seven working daysto frame a similar structure using wood.

The various components of the framing system of the present inventionmay be manufactured in a plant setting where relatively stringentquality control measures may be applied, resulting in improvedworkmanship relative to a comparable wood framed structure. Moreparticularly, the squareness of the frame may be significantly improvedrelative to the squareness of a comparable wood framed structure, whichis often less than desirable, especially in low and moderate pricedhousing where builder's margins are relatively low and costs aretypically suppressed as much as possible.

The rectangular and square metal tubes incorporated in the framingsystems of the present invention have four sides and a welded seam.Assuming similar size and wall thickness, these metal tubes aresignificantly stronger than the three-sided metal channels used in manyknown metal framing systems. Also, as compared to a wood stud, similarsized metal tubing is significantly stronger. Additionally, the foursides of the rectangular and square metal tubes provide flat surfaceswhich facilitate the attachment of other structures to the framingsystem.

Another advantage of the framing system of the present invention, atleast with respect to prior wood framing systems, is that the metalframing system of the present invention is not subject to deteriorationfrom insects, rotting or warping. Furthermore, the metal framing systemof the present invention is not flammable.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system isprovided for framing at least a portion of a structure which may includea foundation. According to a preferred embodiment, the system includes abase which may be attached to the foundation of the structure, and aplurality of lower connecting members attached to the base and extendingupwardly therefrom. Each of the lower connecting members comprises ametal tube selected from the group consisting of rectangular metal tubesand square metal tubes. The system further includes a plurality ofupwardly extending support members which also comprise a metal tubeselected from the group consisting of rectangular metal tubes and squaremetal tubes. A plurality of lower joints interconnect the supportmembers and lower connecting members with each of the lower jointsinterconnecting one of the support members and one of the lowerconnecting members. The support members have a cross-sectional shapewhich is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of theinterconnected one of the lower connecting members. For instance, if thelower connecting member comprises a rectangular metal tube, then thecorresponding, interconnected one of the support members also comprisesa rectangular metal tube. For each of the lower joints, either thesupport member or the lower connecting member has a reduced end portionwhich is inserted into the other of the support member andinterconnected one of the lower connecting members.

In one embodiment the reduced end portion, which corresponds to the maleportion of the lower joint, comprises the lower end portion of thecorresponding support member which is inserted into the interconnectedone of the lower connecting members. This may apply to at least aportion of the lower joints. In another embodiment, the reduced endportion comprises an upper portion of the corresponding lower connectingmember which is inserted into the interconnected one of the supportmembers, for each one of at least a portion of the lower joints.

The system may further include an upper member, which may besubstantially horizontally extending or may alternatively be slopedrelative to horizontal. The upper member preferably comprises either arectangular metal tube or a square metal tube, with the selectiondepending upon the cross-sectional shape of the support members includedin the framing system. A plurality of upper connecting members areattached to the upper member and extend downwardly therefrom, with eachof the upper connecting members comprising a metal tube selected fromthe group consisting of rectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes.

A plurality of upper joints interconnects the upwardly extending supportmembers and the upper connecting members with each of the upper jointsinterconnecting one of the support members and one of the upperconnecting members. The cross-sectional shape of each of the supportmembers matches the cross-sectional shape of the interconnected one ofthe upper connecting members. For each of the upper joints, either thesupport member or the upper connecting member has a reduced end portionwhich is inserted into the other member. In one embodiment, the reducedend portion of each one of at least a portion of the upper jointscomprises the upper end portion of the corresponding one of the supportmembers, with the upper end portion being inserted into thecorresponding, interconnected one of the upper connecting members. Inanother embodiment, the reduced end portion of each one of at least aportion of the upper joints comprises a lower end portion of thecorresponding one of the upper connecting members, which is attached tothe upper member at an upper end portion thereof, with the lower endportion of the upper connecting member being inserted into thecorresponding, interconnected one of the support members.

The reduced end portion of each of the upper and lower joints ispreferably formed by a roll reduction process, in which the end of thecorresponding rectangular or square metal tube to be reduced is insertedinto a tool having a plurality of rollers which are configured andarranged to accomplish the desired end reduction of the tube. Thisprocess is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/957,354.

According to another embodiment, a system is provided for framing atleast a portion of a structure having a foundation, such as aresidential home. The system comprises a plurality of exterior wallframes interconnected to one another and extending upwardly from thefoundation of the structure. Each of the wall frames includes a baseattached to the foundation, a plurality of lower connecting membersattached to the base and extending upwardly therefrom, and a pluralityof upwardly extending support members, with each being interconnected toone of the lower connecting members by one of a plurality of lowerjoints. Each of the lower connecting members and each of the supportmembers comprises a rectangular metal tube. For each of the lowerjoints, either the support member or the lower connecting member has areduced end portion which is inserted into the other member.

Each of the wall frames further includes an upper member comprising arectangular metal tube and a plurality of upper connecting membersattached to the upper member and extending downwardly therefrom. Each ofthe upper connecting members also comprises a rectangular metal tube andis aligned with one of the lower connecting members. A plurality ofupper joints interconnects the support members and the upper connectingmembers, with each of the upper joints interconnecting one of thesupport members and one of the upper connecting members. Each of thesupport members extends between one of the lower connecting members andthe aligned one of the upper connecting members. For each of the upperjoints, either the support member or the upper connecting member has areduced end portion which is inserted into the other member. Similar tothe previously discussed embodiment, the reduced end portion of each ofthe lower and upper joints is preferably formed by a roll reductionprocess.

At least one of the exterior wall frames may further include a windowframe disposed between and interconnected to the base and the uppermember. The window frame may be connected to the base via a secondplurality of lower connecting members attached to the base and extendingupwardly therefrom, a plurality of lower window frame connecting membersattached to and extending downwardly from the window frame, and a secondplurality of upwardly extending support members. Each one of the supportmembers extends between and is connected to one of the second pluralityof lower connecting members and an aligned one of the lower window frameconnecting members. The joints between each support member and thecorresponding one of the lower window frame connecting members and thesecond plurality of lower connecting member is preferably configured asdescribed previously, i.e., a reduced end portion of one member isinserted into the corresponding adjacent member. The window frame may beconnected to the upper member in a similar fashion.

The system may further include an interior wall frame attached to andextending inwardly from one of the exterior wall fires. The interiorwall frame may include a base attached to the foundation of thestructure, a plurality of lower connecting members attached to andextending upwardly from the base, an upper member spaced apart from thebase and a plurality of upper connecting members attached to andextending downwardly from the upper member. The interior wall framefurther includes a plurality of upwardly extending members, with eachone extending between and connected to one of the lower connectingmembers and an aligned one of the upper connecting members.

According to another embodiment, a system is provided for framing astructure which may comprise a carport. The system includes first andsecond bases which are laterally spaced apart from one another. Firstand second pluralities of lower connecting members are attached to thefirst and second bases, respectively, and extend upwardly therefrom. Aplurality of first side posts are interconnected to the first pluralityof lower connecting members via a first plurality of lower joints and aplurality of second side posts are interconnected to the secondplurality of lower connecting members, via a second plurality of lowerjoints. Each of the lower connecting members and side posts comprises ametal tube selected from the group consisting of rectangular metal tubesand square metal tubes. Each side post and the corresponding one of thelower connecting members is interconnected via the corresponding lowerjoint, in the fashion discussed with respect to previous embodiments.The system further includes a plurality of bridge members, with each ofthe bridge members extending between and interconnecting one of thefirst side posts and one of the second side posts.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method ofconstructing a framing system is provided for use in framing at least aportion of a structure. The method comprises the steps of providing abase made of metal, making each of a plurality of lower connectingmembers from a four-sided metal tube, and attaching each one of thelower connecting members to the base. The method further includes thesteps of making each one of a plurality of support members from afour-sided metal tube and interconnecting each of the support members toone of the lower connecting members so that each of the support membersextends upwardly from the interconnected one of the lower connectingmembers.

The step of interconnecting comprises the steps of forming a reduced endportion on one of the support member and the lower connecting member foreach interconnected pair of the support members and the lower connectingmembers, and inserting the reduced end portion into the other member.The step of forming may comprise the step of roll reducing one end ofeither the support member or the lower connecting member for eachinterconnected pair of the support members and the lower connectingmembers.

The method may further include the steps of providing an upper membercomprising at least one four-sided metal tube, making each one of aplurality of upper connecting members from a four-sided metal tube, andattaching each one of the upper connecting members to the upper member.The method may further include the steps of interconnecting each of thesupport members to one of the upper connecting members. This step ofinterconnecting may comprise the steps of forming a reduced end portionon one of the support member and the upper connecting member for eachinterconnected pair of the support members and the lower connectingmembers, and inserting the reduced end portion into the other member.The step of forming the reduced end portion may comprise the step ofroll reducing one end of either the support member or the upperconnecting member for each interconnected pair of the support membersand the upper connecting members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view illustrating a framing system according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, exploded isometric view further illustrating aportion of the framing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation view illustrating one means ofattaching the framing system shown in FIG. 1 to a concrete slab andillustrating the joint between a pair of adjacent members of the framingsystem in greater detail;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating analternative joint between the two adjacent members shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view further illustrating the staked jointshown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded, isometric view illustrating a portionof a framing system according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, exploded, isometric view illustrating a portionof a framing system according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, exploded, isometric view illustrating a portionof a framing system according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, exploded, isometric view illustrating a portionof a framing system according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view illustrating a framing system according toa sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view illustrating a framing system according toa seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view further illustrating the framingsystem shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view further illustrating the framing systemshown in FIGS. 11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is an isometric view illustrating a lower portion of the framingsystem shown in FIGS. 11-13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary elevation view further illustrating one of thestaked joints included in the framing system shown in FIGS. 11-14;

FIG. 16 is an isometric view illustrating a framing system according toan eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an exploded, isometric view of the framing system shown inFIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary, isometric view illustrating a portion of theframing system shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have beenused for similar elements throughout, FIG. 1 is an elevation viewillustrating a framing system 10, according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention. The framing system 10 may be used to frame either anexterior or an interior wall for a wide variety of structures including,but not limited to the following structures: residential homes;carports; commercial buildings such as office, retail, mini-storage andindustrial buildings; apartment and condominium buildings; officebuild-out and commercial buildings; utility buildings; and modular/kiosk structures. The framing system 10 may be attached to a concretesupport structure 12 which may comprise a concrete slab or a portion ofa poured concrete foundation. Alternatively, the framing system may beattached to other conventional foundation or support structures. As yetanother alternative, in certain applications, the framing system mayrest upon a ground surface.

The framing system 10 includes a base 14, which is attached to theconcrete support structure 12 by conventional means as subsequentlydiscussed in greater detail. Base 14 is preferably made from eitherrectangular metal tubing or square metal tubing but may alternatively bemade from other metal structures such as metal plates, metal channelsections, and angled metal sections. Additionally, base 14 may be madeas either a unitary or one piece construction, or alternatively may bemade from a plurality of the foregoing metal components, such asrectangular or square metal tubing, which are attached to one another.In the illustrative embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-8, base 14 is made froma single section of rectangular metal tubing.

As used herein, the term “rectangular metal tubing” refers to hollowmetal tubing having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shapeand the term “square metal tubing” refers to hollow metal tubing havinga substantially square cross-sectional shape. The rectangular and squaremetal tubing incorporated in the various embodiments of the framingsystem of the present invention may be made of steel or aluminum or anyother metal or metal alloy which is suitable for use in constructing asystem for use in framing a wide variety of structures including, butnot limited to those mentioned previously with respect to framing system10. It is a further requirement with respect to certain components ofthe various framing systems of the present invention which require anend reduction, that the metal selected to construct the component mustbe compatible with achieving the end reduction via a roll reductionprocess as disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/957,354.

Framing system 10 further includes a plurality of lower connectingmembers 16 which are preferably made from either rectangular or squaremetal tubing and are attached to the base 14 by conventional means, suchas welding. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower connecting members 16 arespaced apart from one another along base 14, with the particular spacingdepending upon the application of system 10. For instance, if theframing system 10 is used to frame the wall of a residential structure,the lower connecting members 16 may be advantageously spaced either 16or 24 inches from one another due to the common use of this spacing inwood framed residential structures. However, it should be understoodthat other spacings may be utilized in residential home applications.

The framing system 10 further includes a plurality of upwardly extendingsupport members 18, which may be referred to as studs depending upon theparticular application of system 10. Each of the support members 18 ismade from either a rectangular metal tube or a square metal tube and isinterconnected to one of the lower connecting members 16 via one of aplurality of lower joints 20 as discussed further in conjunction withFIG. 2. The cross-sectional shape of each support member 18 must matchthe cross-sectional shape of the corresponding or interconnected one ofthe lower connecting members 16. Accordingly, if a particular lowerconnecting member 16 is made from a rectangular metal tube, then theinterconnected one of the support members 18 must also be made from arectangular metal tube. Similarly, if a particular lower connectingmember 16 is made from a square metal tube, then the interconnected oneof the support members 18 must also be made from a square metal tube.The support members 18 extend upwardly from the lower connecting members16 and, in one preferred embodiment, are substantially verticallyextending.

In the illustrative embodiment, the framing system 10 further includesan upper member 22 which is made from at least one rectangular or squaremetal tube. In the illustrative embodiment, the upper member 22 is madefrom a single rectangular metal tube, but alternatively may beconstructed from a plurality of rectangular metal tubes which may beattached to one another. In other embodiments, when the support members18 are made from square metal tubes, the upper member 22 may be madefrom either a single square metal tube or a plurality of square metaltubes. In other embodiments the upper member 22 may be made of othermetal components such as metal plates, metal channel sections, andangled metal sections.

System 10 further includes a plurality of upper connecting members 24which are attached to and extend downwardly from the upper member 22.The upper connecting members 24 are made from either rectangular orsquare metal tubes, with the chosen configuration depending upon theshape of the corresponding support member 18 and lower connecting member16. For instance, if both the corresponding lower connecting member 16and support member 18 are made from rectangular metal tubing, then theupper connecting member 24 must also be made from rectangular metaltubing, as shown in FIG. 2. The upper connecting members 24 are attachedto the upper member 22 by conventional means, such as welding. Each ofthe support members 18 is interconnected to one of the upper connectingmembers 24 via one of a plurality of upper joints 26. Each of the upperconnecting members 24 is positioned on the upper member 22 so that it isaligned with one of the lower connecting members 16. Each of the supportmembers or studs 18 extends between one of the lower connecting members16 and the aligned one of the upper connecting members 24 as shown inFIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the support members 18 includes a lower endportion 28, an upper end portion 30 and an intermediate portion 32 whichextends between and is integral with the lower 28 and upper 30 endportions. The lower 28 and upper 30 end portions and intermediateportion 32 are preferably made as a one-piece construction. As shown inFIG. 2, the lower 28 and upper 30 end portions comprise reduced endportions of support member 18 and have a rectangular cross-sectionalshape which is reduced in size relative to the rectangularcross-sectional shape of the intermediate portion 32 of thecorresponding support member 18.

The reduced, lower end portion 28 of each support member 18 is insertedinto the corresponding lower connecting member 16 which has arectangular cross-sectional shape which may be the same size as that ofthe intermediate portion 32 of the support member 18. In this instance,the reduced, lower end portion 28 comprises the male portion of thecorresponding lower joint 20, while the lower connecting member 16comprises the female portion of the corresponding lower joint 20. Thereduced end portion 28 and lower connecting member 16 are preferablysized so that they engage one another in a snug fit. Similarly, thereduced, upper end portion 30 of each support member 18 is inserted intothe corresponding one of the upper connecting members 24. Accordingly,the upper end portion 30 of each support member 18 comprises the maleportion of the corresponding upper joint 26, while the interconnectedone of the upper connecting members 24 comprises the female portion ofthe corresponding joint 26.

The reduced end portions 28 and 30 of each support member 18 arepreferably formed by a process which may be referred to as a rollreduction process. As used herein, the term “roll reduction process” isintended to refer to reducing an end portion of either a square orrectangular metal tube by inserting the tube into a tool whichincorporates a plurality of rollers which are configured and arranged toachieve the desired end reduction in the tube. More specifically, asused herein, the term “roll reduction process” is intended to refer toachieving the desired end reduction in either a square or rectangularmetal tube by utilizing a tool such as tool 10 or tool 100 which aredisclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application having Ser. No.08/957,354 entitled “Tool for Working Shaped, Hollow Metal Tubing toAchieve an End Reduction”, which is expressly incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety. As shown in application Ser. No. 08/957,354 anend reduction of a square metal tube may be achieved by using tool 10,while an end reduction of a rectangular metal tube may be achieved byusing tool 100. For further information regarding the structuralfeatures of the tools disclosed and the manner in which an end reductionof a square or rectangular metal tube is achieved, the reader isreferred to application Ser. No. 08/957,354.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 it may be seen that the longitudinallengths of the lower connecting members 16 and the reduced, lower endportions 28 of the support members 18 may be sized to achieve somewhatdifferent results. For instance, as shown in FIG. 3, the longitudinallength of the lower end portion 28 is greater than that of thecorresponding lower connecting member 16 so that the lower end portion28 extends upwardly above the upper edge 34 of the corresponding lowerconnecting member 16. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the supportmembers 18 may include a lower tapered portion 36, having a relativelysmall longitudinal length which forms a transition between theintermediate portion 32 and the reduced end portion 28. As shown in FIG.2, each support member 18 further includes an upper, tapered portion 38,which also has a relatively small longitudinal length, and forms atransition between the intermediate portion 32 and the reduced endportion 30 of member 18.

The relative lengths of the lower connecting member 16 and the reducedend portion 28 shown in FIG. 3 may be desirable in certain applicationsso that any vertical load existing in the support member 18 is reactedat the interface between a lower edge 40 of support member 18 and base14. This configuration provides increased surface area to react the loadcarried by support member 18 as compared to the configuration shown inFIG. 4, for the following reasons. The longitudinal length of the lowerconnecting member 16 shown in FIG. 4 is substantially the same as thelongitudinal length of the reduced end portion 28 of support member 18.Accordingly, a portion of the upper edge 34 of the lower connectingmember 16 engages the tapered portion 36 of the support member 18. Theentire edge 34 may not contact the tapered portion 36 of member 18 dueto the sloped surface of the tapered portion 36. The configuration shownin FIG. 3 may be desirable in instances when the framing system 10 isused to frame a relatively heavily loaded wall, such as that which maybe incorporated in a portion of a residential home, for instance. Theconfiguration shown in FIG. 4 may be advantageously utilized when thecorresponding support member 18 is subjected to a relatively smallerload.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base 14 may be attached to the foundation12 by a plurality of concrete bolts 42 (one shown in FIGS. 3 and 4),with each bolt 42 being secured by a nut 44. Alternatively, the base 14may be attached, or secured to the foundation 12 by other conventionalmeans, such as nails, screws, anchor bolts, or equivalent fasteners.

Each of the lower joints 20 may comprise a staked joint as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5. In this instance, a local indentation 46 is formed in thelower connecting member 16 and a complimentary, local indentation 48 isformed in the lower end portion 28 of the corresponding one of thesupport members 18 so that the support member 18 and lower connectingmember 16 are staked or secured to one another. Alternatively, for oneor more of the lower joints 20, the support member 18 and thecorresponding lower connecting member 16 may be fastened to one anotherby conventional fasteners such as bolts or sheet metal screws. As yetanother alternative, support members 18 may be secured to thecorresponding lower connecting members 16 using nails or pins.Similarly, each of the upper joints may comprise a staked joint, withcomplimentary local indentations formed in the reduced upper end portion30 and the corresponding one of the upper connecting members 24.Alternatively, the reduced upper end portion 30 of the support member 18may be fastened or pinned to the corresponding upper connecting member24, for one or more of the upper joints 26.

FIG. 6 is fragmentary, perspective view illustrating a portion of aframing system 50 according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. The framing system 50 is the same as framing system 10 withthe following exceptions. Each of the lower connecting members 16 ofsystem 10 is replaced by a lower connecting member 52 which is attachedto base 14 by conventional means such as welding and extends upwardlyfrom base 14. Each of the upper connecting members 24 of system 10 isreplaced by an upper connecting member 54 which is attached to andextends downwardly from the upper member 22, and each of the supportmembers 18 of system 10 is replaced by an upwardly extending supportmember 56. Each of the lower 52 and upper 54 connecting members as wellas the support members 56 comprises a rectangular metal tube. As shownin FIG. 6, each lower connecting member 52 includes a lower portion 58which is attached to base 14 and a reduced upper end portion 60 whichhas a reduced size relative to lower portion 58 which is preferablyachieved by the roll reduction process discussed previously. The reducedend portion 60, which comprises the male portion of the correspondinglower joint 20, is inserted into a lower end 57 of the support member56.

Each of the upper connecting members 54 (one shown) includes an upperportion 62 which is attached to the upper member 22 and a reduced, lowerend portion 64 which has a reduced size relative to the upper portion62. The reduced end portion 64 is preferably formed by the rollreduction process discussed previously. The lower end portion 64 of theupper connecting member 62, which comprises the male portion of thecorresponding upper joint 26, is inserted into an upper end 59 of thesupport member 56.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded isometric view illustrating a portionof a framing system 70 according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention. The framing system 70 is the same as system 50, with theexceptions noted below. Each of the upper connecting members 24 ofsystem 10 is replaced by an upper connecting member 72 which is attachedto and extends downwardly from the upper member 22. Each of the supportmembers 18 of system 10 is replaced by a support member 74 which has anupper end portion 76, an intermediate portion 78 and a lower end portion80. The upper end portion 76 and the intermediate portion 78 are thesame size with respect to a rectangular cross-section of each portion.However, the lower end portion 80 has a reduced size relative toportions 76 and 78. The reduced end portion 80 of member 74 comprises amale portion of the corresponding lower joint 20 and is inserted intothe corresponding one of the lower connecting members 16.

Each of the upper connecting members 72 includes an upper portion 82which is attached to the upper member 22 by conventional means such aswelding, and a lower end portion 84 which is reduced in size relative tothe cross-section of the upper portion 82. The reduced, lower endportion 84 comprises the male portion of the corresponding upper joint26 and is inserted into the upper end portion 76 of the correspondingsupport member 74. End portion 80 of member 74 and end portion 84 ofmember 72 are preferably formed by the roll reduction process discussedpreviously.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, exploded isometric view illustrating a portionof a framing system 90, according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. System 90 is the same as system 10, with the followingexceptions. Each of the lower connecting members 16 of system 10 isreplaced by one of the lower connecting members 52, described previouslywith respect to system 50, which is attached to the base 14.Additionally, each of the support members 18 of system 10 is replaced bya support member 92 having a lower end portion 94, an intermediateportion 96 having the same cross-sectional size as the lower end portion94, and an upper end portion 98 which has a reduced cross-sectional sizerelative to the lower 94 and intermediate portions 96.

The reduced, upper end portion 60 of each of the lower connectingmembers 52, which comprises a male portion of the corresponding one ofthe lower joints 20 is inserted into the lower end portion 94 of thecorresponding support member 92. End portion 60 is preferably formed bythe roll reduction process discussed previously. The reduced, upper endportion 98 of each support member 92 comprises the male portion of thecorresponding one of the upper joints 26 and is inserted into thecorresponding one of the upper connecting members 24. The upper endportion 98 is also preferably made by the roll reduction processdiscussed previously.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, exploded isometric view illustrating a portionof a framing system 100 according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. The components of system 100 are the same as thecorresponding components of system 10 except that the components ofsystem 100 are made of square metal tubing instead of rectangular metaltubing. System 100 includes a base 102 which, in the illustrativeembodiment comprises a square metal tube. Alternatively, the base 102may be made of other metal structures including metal plates, metalchannels and angled metal sections. System 100 further includes aplurality of lower connecting members 104 (one shown) which are attachedto base 102 by conventional means such as welding. System 100 furtherincludes a plurality of upwardly extending support members 106 (oneshown) which may be substantially vertically extending. Each of thesupport members 106 includes a lower end portion 108, an intermediateportion 110 and an upper end portion 112. Portions 108, 110 and 112 arepreferably made as a one piece construction, with the lower 108 andupper 112 end portions having a reduced cross-sectional size relative tothe intermediate portion 110. The reduced end portions 108 and 112 arepreferably formed by the roll reduction process discussed previously.Each of the support members 106 is interconnected to one of the lowerconnecting members 104 via one of a plurality of lower joints 114. Thereduced, lower end portion 108 of each of the connecting members 106comprises a male portion of the corresponding joint 120 and is insertedinto the corresponding one of the lower connecting members 104.

System 100 further includes an upper member 116 and a plurality of upperconnecting members 118 which are attached to the upper member 116 byconventional means such as welding and extend downwardly therefrom. Eachof the support members 106 is interconnected to one of the upperconnecting members 118 via one of a plurality of upper joints 120. Thereduced, upper end portion 112 of each of the support members 106comprises a male portion of the corresponding upper joint 120 and isinserted into the corresponding one of the upper connecting members 118.In other embodiments (not shown) of the present invention the lower 104and upper 118 connecting members and the support members 106 of system100 may be replaced with similar components made from square metaltubing which are configured as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 or FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an elevation view illustrating a framing system 130 accordingto a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The framing system 130is the same as framing system 10 with the following exceptions. Framingsystem 130 includes an upper member 132 which is inclined relative tohorizontal, unlike the upper member 22 of framing system 10 which issubstantially horizontally extending. Accordingly, the framing system130 may have particular application for use in framing a structurehaving a vaulted ceiling. The length of the support members 18 includedin system 130 are varied to accommodate the sloped upper member 132.Framing system 130 further includes a plurality of upper connectingmembers 134, which replace the upper connecting members 24 of system 10.Member 132 and each of the members 134 comprises a rectangular metaltube in the illustrative embodiment. Members 134 are attached to theupper member 132 by conventional means such as welding. The upper edgeof each of the upper connecting members 134 is tapered to accommodatethe sloped upper member 132. The remaining members of system 130, aswell as the manner in which adjacent members are interconnected is thesame as system 10. For instance, each of the members 18 of system 130includes reduced upper and lower end portions (not shown in FIG. 10)which are inserted into the upper 134 and lower 16 connecting members,respectively. The base 14 of system 130 may be attached to the concretefoundation 12 in any of the manners discussed previously with respect tosystem 10.

In other embodiments (not shown) of the present invention, the uppermember 22 of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, or the uppermember 116 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, may be replaced withsloped upper members and the included support members may have varyinglengths to accommodate the sloped upper members.

FIG. 11 illustrates a framing system 140 according to a seventhembodiment of the present invention which is particularly useful forframing a residential home or a similar, commercial structure. Whileframing system 140 illustrates the advantageous use of the framingsystem according to the present invention, with respect to a particularfloor plan, it should be understood that the principles of the presentinvention may be advantageously utilized with an almost unlimited numberof floor plans of residential and commercial structures, as well as theother structures mentioned previously. The framing system 140 includes aplurality of exterior wall frames comprising a front wall frame 142which is shown in further detail in FIG. 12, a first sidewall frame 144which is shown in further detail in FIG. 13, a second, opposite sidewallframe 146, and a rear wall frame 148. As shown in FIG. 11, the wallframes 142, 144, 146 and 148 are interconnected to one another andextend upwardly from a foundation 150 of the structure. The framingsystem 140 further includes an interior all frame 152 which is attachedto and extends inwardly from the rear wall frame 148.

With the exception of the lengths of the included bases and uppermembers, and the number of support members, the construction of each ofthe wall frames 146, 148 and 152 in the illustrative embodiment is thesame as the construction of framing system 10 discussed previously.Alternatively, the ends of adjacent components of these wall frames maybe as shown previously in FIGS. 6-8. The wall frames 142 and 144 furtherdiffer from the framing system 10 due to the incorporation of additionalcomponents, comprising one or more window frames or door headers whichare included in the wall frames 142 and 144 as subsequently discussed ingreater detail.

Each of the wall frames 142-148 include a base which is attached to thefoundation 150 as further shown in FIG. 14. In the illustrativeembodiment, the front wall frame 142 includes a base, indicatedgenerally at 154, with base 154 including a first end portion 156, anintermediate portion 158 and a second end portion 160. As shown in FIG.14, portions 156, 158 and 160 are spaced apart from one another, witheach being attached to the foundation 150. The sidewall frames 144 and146 include bases 162 and 164, respectively, which are attached to thefoundation 150. The rear wall frame 148 and interior wall frame 152include bases 166 and 168 respectively. Each of the bases 154, 162, 164,166 and 168 comprise one or more rectangular metal tubes in theillustrative embodiment, and may be preferably made of rectangular metaltubing having outside, cross-sectional dimensions of 1½ inches by 3½0inches. Alternatively, each of the foregoing bases may comprise othermetal structures, including metal plates, metal channel sections andangled metal sections. However, all of the remaining components ofsystem 140 are preferably made from rectangular metal tubing, and mostpreferably are made from 1½ inch by 3½ inch rectangular metal tubing.

In the illustrative embodiment, each of the exterior wall frames 142-148and the interior wall frame 152 include a plurality of lower connectingmembers 16 which are attached to the corresponding bases by conventionalmeans such as welding. The wall frame 146 includes an upper member 170,the wall frame 148 includes an upper member 172 and the interior wallframe 152 includes an upper member 174. The wall frames 146, 148 and 152each further include a plurality of upper connecting members 24,discussed with respect to previous embodiments of the present invention,which are attached to the corresponding one of the upper members 170,172 and 174 by conventional means such as welding and extend downwardlytherefrom. Each of the wall frames 146, 148 and 152 further include aplurality of support members 18 which are constructed as illustrated anddiscussed previously with respect to FIG. 2, in the illustrativeembodiment of framing system 140. Each of the support members 18 of wallframes 146, 148 and 152 extend between and are interconnected to one ofthe lower connecting members 16 and an aligned one of the upperconnecting members 24 in the manner discussed previously with respect toFIG. 2. However, in alternate embodiments, one or more of the supportmembers 18 and the corresponding lower 16 and upper 24 connectingmembers may be replaced by support members, and lower and upperconnecting members which are configured as shown in the framing systemembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. Furthermore, although notpresently preferred in residential home applications, square metaltubing may be used to construct at least a portion of the supportmembers and upper and lower connecting members of framing system 140, asillustrated previously with respect to FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIG. 12, the front wall frame 142 is illustrated anddiscussed in further detail. It is noted that for purposes of clarity,the portions of the rear wall frame 148 which would normally be seen byviewing through the front wall frame 142, are not shown in FIG. 12. Thefront wall frame 142 includes an upper member 176 and a plurality of theupper connecting members 24 which are attached to the upper member 176by conventional means such as welding and extend downwardly therefrom.As shown in FIG. 12, each one of a portion of the lower connectingmembers 16 is aligned with one of the upper connecting members 24. Thewall frame 142 further includes a plurality of support members 18 whichextend between and are interconnected to the lower connecting members 16and the upper connecting members 24. In the illustrative embodiment, thelower 16 and upper 24 connecting members and support members 18 areconfigured and are interconnected to one another as illustrated anddiscussed previously with respect to FIG. 2. Alternatively, thesecomponents may be replaced by the lower and upper connecting members andsupport members shown in any of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS.6-9, although the configuration shown in FIG. 9 is not presentlypreferred for use with residential homes.

The wall frame 142 further includes a window frame 178 disposed betweenand connected to the base 154 and upper member 176 of the wall frame142. Frame 178 may be made from rectangular metal tubing. Frame 142further includes a plurality of lower window frame connecting members180 which are made of rectangular metal tubing and are attached to thewindow frame 178 by conventional means such as welding and extenddownwardly therefrom. Each of the lower window frame connecting members180 is aligned with one of the lower connecting members 16 attached tobase 154. Similarly, the frame 142 further includes a plurality of upperwindow frame connecting members 182 which are attached to the windowframe 178 by conventional means such as welding and extend upwardlytherefrom. Each one of the upper window frame connecting members 182 isaligned with one of the upper connecting members 24 attached to theupper member 176. The front wall frame 142 further includes a pluralityof support members 184 which interconnect the base 154 and the windowframe 178. Each one of the support members 184 extends between and isinterconnected to one of the lower connecting members 16 and an alignedone of the lower window frame connecting members 180. Each of thesupport members 184 may have reduced upper and lower end portions,similar to that shown with respect to support members 18, with thereduced upper and lower end portions being inserted into the lowerwindow frame connecting members 180 and lower connecting members 16,respectively. Alternatively, the lower window frame connecting members180, lower connecting members 16 and support members 184 may be replacedby similar members which are configured such as those shown in theembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6-8.

The exterior wall frame 142 further includes a plurality of supportmembers 186 which interconnect the window frame 178 and the upper member24. Each one of the support members 186 extends between and isinterconnected to one of the upper window frame connecting members 182and the aligned one of the upper connecting members 24. As with thesupport members 184, the support members 186 may be configured as shownwith respect to support members 18, such that an upper end portion (notshown) of each support member 186 is inserted into the correspondingupper connecting member 24, while the reduced lower end portion (notshown) of each one of the support members 186 is inserted into thecorresponding one of the upper window frame connecting members 182.

The wall frame 142 further includes a door header 188 and a garage doorheader 190. Both of the headers 188 and 190 are disposed below andsupported by the upper member 176. The headers 188 and 190 may be madefrom rectangular metal tubing. The wall frame 142 further includes aplurality of header connecting members 192, made of rectangular metaltubing, which are attached to the garage door header 190 by conventionalmeans such as welding and extend upwardly therefrom. At least one of theheader connecting members 192 is attached to and extends upwardly fromthe door header 188. The wall frame 142 further includes a plurality ofsupport members 194, with each one of the support members 194 extendingbetween and being interconnected to one of the header connecting members192 and an aligned one of the upper connecting members 24, therebyinterconnecting the door header 188 and the garage door header 190 withthe upper member 176. The support members 194 may be configured withreduced upper and lower end portions as shown with respect to supportmember 18 and therefore, may be interconnected to the upper connectingmembers 24 and the header connecting members 192 as shown in FIG. 2 withrespect to members 16, 18 and 24. Alternatively, other configurations ofrectangular metal tubing, such as the upper and lower connecting membersand the support members shown in FIGS. 6-8 may be used to interconnectthe door header 188 and garage door header 190 with the upper member176. However, as stated previously, the use of square metal tubing asshown in FIG. 9 is not presently preferred in residential homeapplications. This may change in the future due to changes in theconstruction industry and therefore the use of square metal tubing toconstruct interconnected components of framing system 140 is consideredto be within the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 13, the side wall frame 144 is illustrated anddiscussed in further detail. The wall frame 144 further includes anupper member 196 and a plurality of the upper connecting members 24attached to the upper member 196 by conventional means such as weldingand extending downwardly therefrom. Frame 144 further includes aplurality of the support members 18, with each one being interconnectedto and extending between one of the lower connecting members 16 and analigned one of the upper connecting members 24. A pair of window frames198, which may be made from rectangular metal tubing, are disposedbetween and connected to the base 162 and upper member 196 of wall frame144. A plurality of the lower window frame connecting members 180 andupper window frame connecting members 182, discussed previously withrespect to window frames 178 of wall frame 142, are attached to each oneof the window frames 198 of wall frame 144 as shown in FIG. 13. Wallframe 144 further includes a plurality of relatively short supportmembers 200 which interconnect the base 162 and the window frames 198,and a plurality of relatively short support members 202 whichinterconnect the window frames 198 with the upper member 196. Each ofthe support members 200 extends between and is interconnected to one ofthe lower connecting members 16 and an aligned one of the lower windowframe connecting members 180. Each of the support members 202 extendsbetween and is interconnected to one of the upper window frameconnecting members 182 and an aligned one of the upper connectingmembers 24. Except for length, members 200 and 202 are the same asmembers 18.

The manner in which one of the support members 18 of the side wall frame146 interfaces with the corresponding lower connecting member 16 isillustrated in FIG. 15 which is similar to FIG. 3 discussed previouslywith respect to framing system 10. As shown in FIG. 15, the lower,reduced end portion 28 of the member 18 extends above the lowerconnecting member 16 for purposes of providing increased surface area toreact the load carried by support member 18 as discussed previously withrespect to framing system 10. The connection shown in FIG. 15 is typicalof the manner in which all the support members of framing system 140 areinterconnected to the corresponding lower connecting members and to thecorresponding upper connecting members.

FIGS. 16-18 illustrate a framing system 210 according to an eighthembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is an isometric view of theframing system 210 as assembled, while FIG. 17 is an exploded, isometricview showing the various components of the framing system 210 in furtherdetail. The framing system 210 has particular application for use inframing a carport. Framing system 210 includes a first base 212 and asecond base 214 which is laterally spaced apart from base 212. As shownin FIG. 17, base 212 includes first 216, second 218 and third 220portions, and each of the portions 216-220 preferably comprises either arectangular or square metal tube. Alternatively, portions 216-220 maycomprise other metal structures, such as metal plates, channel sectionsor angled sections. As a further alternative, base 212 may be made as aunitary construction, either out of rectangular or square metal tubingor one of the foregoing alternative metal structures.

Base 214 similarly includes first 222, second 224, and third 226portions, with each comprising a rectangular metal tube in theillustrative embodiment. However, portions 222, 224 and 226 mayalternatively be made of square metal tubing or the alternative metalstructures listed previously with respect to base 212. Each of the baseportions 216-222 of bases 212 and 214 is attached to a foundation 229 ofthe carport in the illustrative embodiment by conventional means such asa plurality of nails 231 as further illustrated in FIG. 18. In otherembodiments the framing system 210 may rest on a ground surface. Theframing system 210 farther includes a first plurality of lowerconnecting members 228 which are attached to the base 212 byconventional means such as welding, and extend upwardly therefrom.Framing system 210 further includes a second plurality of lowerconnecting members 228 attached to the base 214 in a similar manner.Each of the lower connecting members 228 includes a lower portion 230which is attached to the corresponding one of bases 212 and 214, and anupper portion 232 which has a reduced cross-sectional size relative tothe lower portion 230. The reduction in size of the upper portion 232 ispreferably accomplished by the roll reduction process discussedpreviously. The framing system 210 further includes a plurality of firstside posts 234, with each having a substantially straight portion 236and an arcuate portion 238 integral with an upper end of thesubstantially straight portion 236. The reduced end portion 232 of eachone of the lower connecting members 228 is inserted into a lower end 240of the substantially straight portion 236 of one of the first side posts234.

The framing system 210 further includes a plurality of second side posts242 which are preferably identical in construction to the side posts234. Each of the second side posts 242 includes a substantially straightportion 244 and an upper, arcuate portion 246 which is integral with thesubstantially straight portion 244. The reduced end portion of each oneof the second plurality of lower connecting members 228 is inserted intoa lower end 248 of the substantially straight portion 244 of one of thesecond side posts 242. The interconnected members may be further securedby one or more bolts 249 or alternatively the second side posts 242 maybe staked to the corresponding lower connecting member 228. The firstside posts 234 may be similarly connected to the lower connectingmembers 228.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, each of the first side posts 234 is alignedwith one of the second side posts 242 and is interconnected to thealigned one of the second side posts 242 by a bridge member 250. Each ofthe bridge members 250 includes a pair of rafters 252 and a peak 254 inthe illustrative embodiment. Each of the rafters 252 has a first endportion 256, an intermediate portion 258 and a second end portion 260.The end portions 256 and 260 have a reduced cross-sectional sizerelative to that of the intermediate portion 258, with the reduced endportions 256 and 258 of rafters 252 preferably being formed by the rollreduction process discussed previously. The end portion 256 of a firstone of the rafters 252 of each bridge member 254 is inserted into thearcuate portion 238 of the corresponding one of the first side posts234. The reduced end portion 256 of the second rafter 252 of each bridgemember 250 is inserted into the arcuate portion 246 of the alignedsecond side post 242. The ends 260 of each of the pair of rafters isthen inserted into opposite ends of the corresponding peak 254.

Each of the following components of the framing system 210 preferablycomprises a rectangular metal tube and even more preferably comprises arectangular metal tube having a cross-section which has outsidedimensions of 1½ inches×3½ inches: base portions 216-222; lowerconnecting members 228; first 234 and second 242 side posts; rafters 252and peaks 254.

Each bridge member 250 may alternatively comprise a unitary constructionor as another alternative, may be constructed of fewer or greatercomponents provided the same overall shape of each bridge member 250 issubstantially retained. Furthermore, the configurations of the ends ofselected components of the flaming system 210 may be varied to achievethe same results. For instance, each of the lower connecting members 228may comprise a substantially uniformly shaped rectangular tube, with thelower ends 236 and 248 of the first 234 and second 242 side postscomprising reduced end portions which are inserted into thecorresponding lower connecting members 228.

The arcuate portions of the first 234 and second 242 side posts, as wellas peaks 254 is achieved by bending the corresponding rectangular metaltubes and provides the advantage of eliminating mitered joints whichmight otherwise be required.

While the foregoing description has set forth the preferred embodimentsof the present invention in particular detail, it must be understoodthat numerous modifications, substitutions and changes can be undertakenwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the presentinvention as defined by the ensuing claims. For instance, while thereduced end portions of the rectangular or square metal tubes includedin the various embodiments of the present invention are preferablyformed by the roll reduction process disclosed in co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/957,354, these reduced end portions may beachieved by other methods such as die forming. The invention istherefore not limited to specific preferred embodiments as described,but is only defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for framing at least a portion of astructure having a foundation, said system comprising: a base, said basebeing attachable to the foundation of the structure; a plurality oflower connecting members extending upwardly from said base, each of saidlower connecting members comprising a metal tube selected from the groupconsisting of rectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes; aplurality of upwardly extending support members, each of said supportmembers comprising a metal tube selected from the group consisting ofrectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes; a plurality of lowerjoints interconnecting said upwardly extending support members and saidlower connecting members, each of said lower joints interconnecting oneof said support members and one of said lower connecting members, eachof said support members having a cross-sectional shape which issubstantially the same as a cross-sectional shape of said interconnectedone of said lower connecting members; wherein for each of said lowerjoints, one of said support member and said interconnected one of saidlower connecting members has a reduced end portion which is insertedinto the other of said support member and said interconnected one ofsaid lower connecting members.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1,wherein: each of said support members includes an upper end portion, alower end portion and an intermediate portion; said reduced end portionof each one of at least a portion of said lower joints comprises saidlower end portion of the corresponding one of said support members, saidlower end portion of said corresponding one of said support membersbeing inserted into said interconnected one of said lower connectingmembers.
 3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: each of saidsupport members includes an upper end portion, a lower end portion andan intermediate portion; each of said lower connecting members includesa lower portion attached to said base and an upper portion extendingupwardly from said lower portion; said reduced end portion of each oneof at least a portion of said lower joints comprises said upper portionof the corresponding one of said lower connecting members, said upperportion of said corresponding one of said lower connecting members beinginserted into said interconnected one of said support members.
 4. Thesystem as recited in claim 1, wherein: said base comprises at least onemetal tube selected from the group consisting of rectangular metal tubesand square metal tubes.
 5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:each of said lower connecting members and each of said upwardlyextending support members comprises a rectangular metal tube.
 6. Thesystem as recited in claim 1, wherein: each of said lower connectingmembers and each of said upwardly extending support members comprises asquare metal tube.
 7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: saidreduced end portion of each of said lower joints is formed by a rollreduction process.
 8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: eachone of at least a portion of said support members is staked to theinterconnected one of said lower connecting members.
 9. The system asrecited in claim 1, wherein: each one of at least a portion of saidsupport members is fastened to the interconnected one of said lowerconnecting members.
 10. A system for framing at least a portion of astructure, said system comprising: a base; a plurality of lowerconnecting members attached to said base and extending upwardlytherefrom, each of said lower connecting members comprising a metal tubeselected from the group consisting of rectangular metal tubes and squaremetal tubes; a plurality of upwardly extending support members, each ofsaid support members comprising a metal tube selected from the groupconsisting of rectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes; aplurality of lower joints interconnecting said upwardly extendingsupport members and said lower connecting members, each of said lowerjoints interconnecting one of said support members and one of said lowerconnecting members each of said support members having a cross-sectionalshape which is substantially the same as a cross-sectional shape of saidinterconnected one of said lower connecting members; wherein for each ofsaid lower joints, one of said support member and said interconnectedone of said lower connecting members has a reduced end portion which isinserted into the other of said support member and said interconnectedone of said lower connecting members; wherein each of said supportmembers includes an upper end portion, a lower end portion and anintermediate portion; said reduced end portion of each one of at least aportion of said lower joints comprises said lower end portion of thecorresponding one of said support members, said lower end portion ofsaid corresponding one of said support members being inserted into saidinterconnected one of said lower connecting members; said system furthercomprising: an upper member; a plurality of upper connecting membersattached to said upper member and extending downwardly therefrom, eachof said upper connecting members comprising a metal tube selected fromthe group consisting of rectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes;a plurality of upper joints interconnecting said upwardly extendingsupport members and said upper connecting members, each of said upperjoints interconnecting one of said support members and one of said upperconnecting members, said cross-sectional shape of each of said supportmembers being substantially the same as a cross-sectional shape of saidinterconnected one of said upper connecting members; wherein for each ofsaid upper joints, one of said support member and said interconnectedone of said upper connecting members has a reduced end portion which isinserted into the other of said support member and said interconnectedone of said upper connecting members.
 11. The system as recited in claim10, wherein: said reduced end portion of each one of at least a portionof said upper joints comprises said upper end portion of thecorresponding one of said support members, said upper end portion ofsaid corresponding one of said support members being inserted into theinterconnected one of said upper connecting members.
 12. The system asrecited in claim 10, wherein: each of said upper connecting membersincludes an upper portion attached to said upper member and a lowerportion extending downwardly from said upper portion; said reduced endportion of each one of at least a portion of said upper joints comprisessaid lower portion of the corresponding one of said upper connectingmembers, said lower portion of said corresponding one of said upperconnecting members being inserted into the interconnected one of saidsupport members.
 13. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein: each ofsaid lower connecting members, said upwardly extending support membersand said upper connecting members comprises a rectangular metal tube.14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein: said upper membercomprises at least one rectangular metal tube.
 15. The system as recitedin claim 10, wherein: each of said lower connecting members, saidupwardly extending support members and said upper connecting memberscomprises a square metal tube.
 16. The system as recited in claim 15,wherein: said upper member comprises at least one rectangular metaltube.
 17. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein: said reduced endportion of each of said lower joints is formed by a roll reductionprocess; said reduced end portion of each of said upper joints is formedby a roll reduction process.
 18. A system for framing at least a portionof a structure, said system comprising: a base; a plurality of lowerconnecting members attached to said base and extending upwardlytherefrom, each of said lower connecting members comprising a metal tubeselected from the group consisting of rectangular metal tubes and squaremetal tubes; a plurality of upwardly extending support members, each ofsaid support members comprising a metal tube selected from the groupconsisting of rectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes; aplurality of lower joints interconnecting said upwardly extendingsupport members and said lower connecting members, each of said lowerjoints interconnecting one of said support members and one of said lowerconnecting members, each of said support members having across-sectional shape which is substantially the same as across-sectional shape of said interconnected one of said lowerconnecting members; wherein for each of said lower joints, one of saidsupport member and said interconnected one of said lower connectingmembers has a reduced end portion which is inserted into the other ofsaid support member and said interconnected one of said lower connectingmembers; wherein each of said support members includes an upper endportion, a lower end portion and an intermediate portion: each of saidlower connecting members includes a lower portion attached to said baseand an upper portion extending upwardly from said lower portion; saidreduced end portion of each one of at least a portion of said lowerjoints comprises said upper portion of the corresponding one of saidlower connecting members, said upper portion of said corresponding oneof said lower connecting members being inserted into said interconnectedone of said support members; said system further comprising: an uppermember; a plurality of upper connecting members attached to said uppermember and extending downwardly therefrom, each of said upper connectingmembers comprising a metal tube selected from the group consisting ofrectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes; a plurality of upperjoints interconnecting said upwardly extending support members and saidupper connecting members, each of said upper joints interconnecting oneof said support members and one of said upper connecting members, saidcross-sectional shape of each of said support members beingsubstantially the same as a cross-sectional shape of said interconnectedone of said upper connecting members; wherein for each of said upperjoints, one of said support member and said interconnected one of saidupper connecting members has a reduced end portion which is insertedinto the other of said support member and said interconnected one ofsaid upper connecting members.
 19. The system as recited in claim 18,wherein: each of said upper connecting members includes an upper portionattached to said upper member and a lower portion extending downwardlyfrom said upper portion; said reduced end portion of each one of atleast a portion of said upper joints comprises said lower portion of thecorresponding one of said upper connecting members, said lower portionof said corresponding one of said upper connecting members beinginserted into the interconnected one of said support members.
 20. Thesystem as recited in claim 18, wherein: said reduced end portion of eachone of at least a portion of said upper joints comprises said upper endportion of the corresponding one of said support members, said upper endportion of said corresponding one of said support members being insertedinto the interconnected one of said upper connecting members.
 21. Thesystem as recited in claim 18, wherein: each of said lower connectingmembers, said upwardly extending support members and said upperconnecting members comprises a rectangular metal tube.
 22. The system asrecited in claim 21, wherein: said upper member comprises at least onesquare metal tube.
 23. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein: eachof said lower connecting members, said upwardly extending supportmembers and said upper connecting members comprises a square metal tube.24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein: said upper membercomprises at least one square metal tube.
 25. The system as recited inclaim 18, wherein: said reduced end portion of each of said lower jointsis formed by a roll reduction process; said reduced end portion of eachof said upper joints is formed by a roll reduction process.
 26. Thesystem as recited in claim 18, wherein: said upper member issubstantially horizontally extending.
 27. The system as recited in claim18, wherein: said upper member is inclined relative to horizontal.
 28. Asystem for framing at least a portion of a structure having afoundation, said system comprising: a plurality of wall framesinterconnected to one another and extendable upwardly from thefoundation of the structure, wherein each of said wall frames includes:a base attachable to the foundation of the structure; a plurality oflower connecting members attached to said base and extending upwardlytherefrom, each of said lower connecting members comprising arectangular metal tube; a plurality of upwardly extending supportmembers, each of said support members comprising a rectangular metaltube; a plurality of lower joints interconnecting said plurality of saidsupport members and said plurality of said lower connecting members,each of said lower joints interconnecting one of said support membersand one of said lower connecting members, wherein for each of said lowerjoints one of said support member and said interconnected one of saidlower connecting members has a reduced end portion which is insertedinto the other of said support member and said interconnected one ofsaid lower connecting members; an upper member made of metal; aplurality of upper connecting members attached to said upper member andextending downwardly therefrom, each of said upper connecting memberscomprising a rectangular metal tube, each of said upper connectingmembers being aligned with one of said lower connecting members; aplurality of upper joints interconnecting said support members and saidupper connecting members, each of said upper joints interconnecting oneof said support members and one of said upper connecting members, eachof said support members extending between one of said lower connectingmembers and said aligned one of said upper connecting members; whereinfor each of said upper joints, one of said support member and saidinterconnected one of said upper connecting members has a reduced endportion which is inserted into the other of said support member and saidinterconnected one of said upper connecting members.
 29. The system asrecited in claim 28, wherein: said reduced end portion of each of saidlower joints is formed by a roll reduction process.
 30. The system asrecited in claim 29, wherein: said reduced end portion of each of saidupper joints is formed by a roll reduction process.
 31. The system asrecited in claim 28, wherein at least one of said exterior wall framesfurther includes: a window frame disposed between and connected to saidbase and said upper member.
 32. The system as recited in claim 31,wherein said at least one of said exterior wall frames further includes:a second plurality of lower connecting members attached to said base andextending upwardly therefrom; a plurality of lower window frameconnecting members attached to and extending downwardly from said windowframe, each of said lower window frame connecting members being alignedwith one of said second plurality of said lower connecting members; asecond plurality of upwardly extending support members, each of saidsecond plurality of support members extending between and connected toone of said second plurality of said lower connecting members and saidaligned one of said lower window frame connecting members; wherein eachof said second plurality of said lower connecting members, saidplurality of lower window frame connecting members and said secondplurality of support members comprises a rectangular metal tube.
 33. Thesystem as recited in claim 32, wherein said at least one of saidexterior wall frames further includes: a second plurality of upperconnecting members attached to said upper member and extendingdownwardly therefrom; a plurality of upper window frame connectingmembers attached to and extending upwardly from said window frame, eachof said upper window frame connecting members being aligned with one ofsaid second plurality of upper connecting members; a third plurality ofupwardly extending support members, each of said third plurality of saidsupport members extending between and connected to one of said secondplurality of said upper connecting members and said aligned one of saidupper window frame connecting members; wherein each of said secondplurality of upper connecting members, said plurality of upper windowframe connecting members and said third plurality of said supportmembers comprises a rectangular metal tube.
 34. The system as recited inclaim 28, wherein at least one of said exterior wall frames furtherincludes: a door header disposed below and supported by said uppermember.
 35. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein said door headercomprises a garage door header.
 36. The system as recited in claim 28,further comprising: an interior wall frame attached to and extendinginwardly from one of said exterior wall frames, said interior wall frameincluding: a base attached to the foundation of the structure; aplurality of lower connecting members attached to an extending upwardlyfrom said base; an upper member spaced apart from said base; a pluralityof upper connecting members attached to and extending downwardly fromsaid upper member, each of said upper connecting members being alignedwith one of said lower connecting members; a plurality of upwardlyextending support members, each of said support members of said interiorwall frame extending between and connected to one of said lowerconnecting members and an aligned one of said upper connecting members.37. A system for framing a structure comprising: a first base; a secondbase laterally spaced apart from said first base; a first plurality oflower connecting members attached to said first base and extendingupwardly therefrom, each of said first plurality of lower connectingmembers comprising a metal tube selected from the group consisting ofrectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes; a plurality of upwardlyextending first side posts, each of said first side posts comprising ametal tube selected from the group consisting of rectangular metal tubesand square metal tubes; a first plurality of lower joints, each of saidlower joints interconnecting one of said first plurality of lowerconnecting members and one of said first side posts, wherein for each ofsaid first plurality of lower joints, one of said first side posts andsaid interconnected one of said first plurality of lower connectingmembers has a reduced end portion which is inserted into the other ofsaid first side post and said interconnected one of said first pluralityof lower connecting members, each of said first side posts having across-sectional shape which is substantially the same as thecross-sectional shape of said interconnected one of said first pluralityof lower connecting members; a second plurality of lower connectingmembers attached to said second base and extending upwardly therefrom,each of said second plurality of lower connecting members comprising ametal tube selected from the group consisting of rectangular metal tubesand square metal tubes, each of said second plurality of lowerconnecting members having a cross-sectional shape which is substantiallythe same as said cross-sectional sectional shape of said first pluralityof lower connecting members and said plurality of first side posts, eachof said second plurality of lower connecting members being aligned withone of said first plurality of said lower connecting members; aplurality of upwardly extending second side posts, each of said secondside posts comprising a metal tube selected from the group consisting ofrectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes; a second plurality oflower joints, each of said lower joints interconnecting one of saidsecond plurality of lower connecting members and one of said second sideposts, wherein for each of said second plurality of lower joints, one ofsaid second side post and said interconnected one of said secondplurality of said lower connecting members has a reduced end portionwhich is inserted into the other of said second side post and saidinterconnected one of said second plurality of said lower connectingmembers, each of said second side posts having a cross-sectional shapewhich is substantially the same as a cross-sectional shape of saidinterconnected one of said second plurality of said lower connectingmembers; a plurality of bridge members, each of said bridge membersextending between and interconnecting one of said first side posts andone of said second side posts.
 38. The system as recited in claim 37,wherein each of said bridge members includes: a pair of rafters and apeak disposed between and connected to each one of said pair of rafters;and wherein for each said bridge member, a first one of said rafters isconnected to one of said first side posts and the other one of saidrafters is connected to one of said second side posts which is alignedwith said one of said first side posts; each of said rafters and saidpeaks comprising a metal tube selected from the group consisting ofrectangular metal tubes and square metal tubes.
 39. A method ofconstructing a framing system for use in framing at least a portion of astructure, said method comprising the steps of: providing a base made ofmetal; making each one of a plurality of lower connecting members from afour-sided metal tube; attaching each one of the lower connectingmembers to the base; making each one of a plurality of support membersfrom a four-sided metal tube; interconnecting each one of the supportmembers to one of the lower connecting members so that each of thesupport members extends upwardly from the interconnected one of thelower connecting members, said step of interconnecting comprising thesteps of: forming a reduced end portion on one of the support member andthe lower connecting member for each interconnected pair of the supportmembers and the lower connecting members; inserting the reduced endportion into the other of the support member and the lower connectingmember for each interconnected pair of the support members and the lowerconnecting members.
 40. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein saidstep of forming comprises the step of: roll reducing one end of one ofthe support member and the lower connecting member for eachinterconnected pair of the support members and the lower connectingmembers.
 41. The method as recited in claim 40, further comprising thesteps of: providing an upper member comprising at least one four-sidedmetal tube; making each one of a plurality of upper connecting membersfrom a four-sided metal tube; attaching each one of the upper connectingmembers to the upper member; interconnecting each one of the supportmembers to one of the upper connecting members, said step ofinterconnecting each one of the support members to one of the upperconnecting members comprising the steps of: forming a reduced endportion on one of the support member and the upper connecting member foreach interconnected pair of the support members and the lower connectingmembers; inserting the reduced end portion into the other of the supportmember and the lower connecting member for each interconnected pair ofthe support members and the lower connecting member.
 42. The method asrecited in claim 41, wherein said step of forming the reduced endportion on one of the support member and the upper connecting membercomprises the step of: roll reducing one end of one of the supportmember and the upper connecting member for each interconnected pair ofthe support members and the upper connecting members.
 43. A system forframing at least a portion of a structure, said system comprising: abase and an upper member; a plurality of lower connecting membersextending from said base and a plurality of upper connecting membersextending from said upper member, each of said upper and lowerconnecting members comprising a four-sided metal tube; a plurality ofsupport members, each of said support members comprising a four-sidedmetal tube, each of said support members being interconnectable at oneend with one of said upper connecting members and at the other end withan aligned one of said lower connecting members, each of said supportmembers having a cross-sectional shape which is substantially the sameas a cross-sectional shape of said interconnectable ones of said upperand lower connecting members; wherein for each of said support membersand at least one of said interconnectable upper and lower connectingmembers, one of said support member and said at least one of saidinterconnectable upper and lower connecting members has a reduced endportion of complementary shape to said cross-sectional shape of saidsupport member, said reduced end portion being insertable into the otherof said support member and said at least one of said interconnectableupper and lower connecting members.
 44. The system as recited in claim43, wherein: each of said connecting members and said upwardly extendingsupport members comprises a rectangular metal tube.
 45. The system asrecited in claim 43, wherein: each of said connecting members and saidupwardly extending support members comprises a square metal tube. 46.The system as recited in claim 43, wherein: said reduced end portion issized to snugly fit within said other of said support member and saidinterconnected one of said connecting members.
 47. A system for framingat least a portion of a structure, said system comprising: an uppermember; a plurality of upper connecting members attached to andextending downwardly from said upper member; a plurality of upwardlyextending support members, each of said support members comprising afour-sided metal tube, each of said support members being interconnectedwith one of said upper connecting members, each of said support membershaving a cross-sectional shape which is substantially the same as across-sectional shape of said interconnected one of said upperconnecting members; wherein for each of said support members and saidinterconnected one of said upper connecting members, one of said supportmember and said interconnected one of said upper connecting members hasa reduced end portion of complementary shape to said cross-sectionalshape of said support member and said interconnected one of said upperconnecting members, said reduced end portion being inserted into theother of said support member and said interconnected one of said upperconnecting members.
 48. A system for framing at least a portion of astructure, said system comprising at least one wall frame, said at leastone wall frame including: a base having an upper surface; a plurality oflower connecting members extending upwardly from said base, each of saidlower connecting members being substantially perpendicular to said uppersurface of said base, each of said lower connecting members comprising afour-sided metal tube; a plurality of upwardly extending supportmembers, each of said support members comprising a four-sided metaltube, each of said support members being interconnected with one of saidlower connecting members, each of said support members having across-sectional shape which is substantially the same as across-sectional shape of said interconnected one of said connectingmembers; wherein for each of said support members and saidinterconnected one of said lower connecting members, one of said supportmember and said interconnected one of said lower connecting members hasa reduced end portion of complementary shape to said cross-sectionalshape of said support member and said interconnected one of said lowerconnecting members, said reduced end portion being inserted into theother of said support member and said interconnected one of said lowerconnecting members.
 49. A system for framing at least a portion of astructure, said system comprising at least one wall frame, said at leastone wall frame including: at least one of a lower supporting structureand an upper member; a plurality of connecting members extending fromsaid at least one of a lower supporting structure and an upper member,each of said connecting members comprising a four-sided metal tube; aplurality of upwardly extending support members, said support membersbeing substantially parallel to one another, each of said supportmembers comprising a four-sided metal tube, each of said support membersbeing interconnected with one of said connecting members, each of saidsupport members having a cross-sectional shape which is substantiallythe same as a cross-sectional shape of said interconnected one of saidconnecting members; wherein for each of said support members and saidinterconnected one of said connecting members, one of said supportmember and said interconnected one of said connecting members has areduced end portion of complementary shape to said cross-sectional shapeof said support member and said interconnected one of said connectingmembers, said reduced end portion being inserted into the other of saidsupport member and said interconnected one of said connecting members.50. The system as recited in claim 49, wherein: said at least one of alower supporting structure and an upper member comprises a lowersupporting structure; said lower supporting structure comprises a base.51. A system for framing at least a portion of a structure having afoundation, said system comprising: a plurality of wall framesinterconnected to one another and extendable upwardly from thefoundation of the structure, wherein each of said wall frames includes:a base attachable to the foundation of the structure; a plurality oflower connecting members attached to said base and extending upwardlytherefrom, each of said lower connecting members comprising arectangular metal tube; a plurality of upwardly extending supportmembers, each of said support members comprising a rectangular metaltube, each of said support members being interconnected with one of saidlower connecting members, each of said support members having across-sectional shape which is substantially the same as across-sectional shape of said interconnected one of said lowerconnecting members, wherein for each of said support members and saidinterconnected one of said lower connecting members, one of said supportmember and said interconnected one of said lower connecting members hasa reduced end portion of complementary shape to said cross-sectionalshape of said support member and said interconnected one of said lowerconnecting members, said reduced end portion being inserted into theother of said support member and said interconnected one of said lowerconnecting members; an upper member; a plurality of upper connectingmembers attached to said upper member and extending downwardlytherefrom, each of said upper connecting members comprising arectangular metal tube, each of said upper connecting members beingaligned with one of said lower connecting members, each of said upwardlyextending support members being interconnected with one of said upperconnecting members, said cross-sectional shape of each of said supportmembers being substantially the same as a cross-sectional shape of saidinterconnected one of said upper connecting members, wherein for each ofsaid support members and said interconnected one of said upperconnecting members, one of said support member and said interconnectedone of said upper connecting members has a reduced end portion ofcomplementary shape to sad cross-sectional shape of said support memberand said interconnected one of said upper connecting members, saidreduced end portion being inserted into the other of said support memberand said interconnected one of said upper connecting members.
 52. Asystem for framing at least a portion of a structure having afoundation, said system comprising: a plurality of wall framesinterconnected to one another and extendable upwardly from thefoundation of the structure, wherein each of said wall frames includes:a plurality of upwardly extending suppose members, each of said supportmembers comprising a four-sided metal tube; an upper member; and aplurality of upper connecting members attached to said upper member andextending downwardly from said upper member, each of said upperconnecting members comprising a four-sided metal tube, each of saidupwardly extending support members being interconnected with one of saidupper connecting members, wherein for each of said support members andsaid interconnected one of said upper connecting members, one of saidsupport member and said interconnected one of said upper connectingmembers has a reduced end portion of complementary shape to across-sectional shape of said support member and which is inserted intothe other of said support member and said interconnected one of saidupper connecting members to snugly fit within.
 53. The system as recitedin claim 52 wherein: each of said upwardly extending support memberscomprises a four-sided orthogonal metal tube; each of said upperconnecting members comprises a four-sided orthogonl metal tube.
 54. Thesystem as recited in claim 52, wherein: each of said upwardly extendingsupport members comprises a rectangular metal tube; each of said upperconnecting members comprises a rectangular metal tube.
 55. A system forframing at least a portion of a structure having a foundation, saidsystem comprising: a plurality of wall frames interconnected to oneanother and extendable upwardly from the foundation of the structure,wherein each of said wall frames includes: a base attachable to thefoundation of the structure; a plurality of lower connecting membersattached to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, each of saidlower connecting members comprising a four-sided metal tube; a pluralityof upwardly extending support members, each of said support memberscomprising a four-sided metal tube, each of said support members beinginterconnected with one of said lower connecting members, wherein foreach of said support members and said interconnected one of said lowerconnecting members, one of said support member and said interconnectedone of said lower connecting members has a reduced end portion ofcomplementary shape to a cross-sectional shape of said support memberwhich is inserted into the other of said support member and saidinterconnected one of said lower connecting members to snugly fitwithin.
 56. The system as recited in claim 55, wherein: each of saidupwardly extending support members comprises a four-sided orthogonlmetal tube; each of said lower connecting members comprises a four-sidedorthogonal metal tube.
 57. The system as recited in claim 55, wherein:each of said upwardly extending support members comprises a rectangularmetal tube; each of said lower connecting members comprises arectangular metal tube.
 58. A system for forming at least one wall framefor framing at least a portion of a building structure, said systemformed from a plurality of interconnectable four-sided orthogonal metaltubes having substantially identical cross-sectional dimensions thatinterconnect with each other at their free ends with a free end of onemetal tube having a reduced portion along each of its four orthogonalsides relative to a free end portion of a tube to which it connects,said reduced portion snugly and securely fitting within the end portionof the tube to which it connects, wherein said orthogonal metal tubesinclude vertically extending support members which are substantiallyparallel to one another and vertically extending connecting members,wherein one of said support members and connecting members include areduced end portion relative to the other of said supporting members andconnecting members wherein the support members are supported verticallyby the connecting members.
 59. The system as recited in claim 58,wherein: said connecting members extend vertically from at least one ofa base and an upper member.
 60. The system as recited in claim 59,wherein said base is supported in a substantially horizontal direction.61. A system for framing at least a portion of a structure having afoundation, said system comprising: a plurality of wall framesinterconnected to one another and extendable upwardly from thefoundation of the structure, wherein each of said wall frames includes:a plurality of interconnectable four-sided orthogonal metal tubes havingsubstantially identical cross-sectional dimensions that interconnectwith each other at their free ends with a free end of one metal tubehaving a reduced end portion along each of its four orthogonal sidesrelative to the free end portion of a tube to which it connects, saidreduced end portion snugly and securely fitting within the end portionof the tube to which it connects.
 62. A system for framing a structurecomprising: a first base having an upper surface; a first plurality oflower connecting members extending upwardly from said base, each of saidlower connecting members being substantially perpendicular to said uppersurface of said first base, each of said first plurality of lowerconnecting members comprising a four-sided metal tube; a plurality ofupwardly extending first side posts, each of said first side postscomprising a four-sided metal tube, each of said first side posts beinginterconnected with one of said first plurality of lower connectingmembers; wherein for each of said first side posts and saidinterconnected one of said first plurality of lower connecting members,one of said first side post and said interconnected one of said firstplurality of lower connecting members has a reduced end portion ofcomplementary shape to a cross-sectional shape of said first side post,said reduced end portion being inserted into the other of said firstside post and said interconnected one of said first plurality of lowerconnecting members.
 63. A system for framing a structure comprising: afirst base; a first plurality of lower connecting members attached tosaid first base and extending upwardly therefrom, each of said firstplurality of lower connecting members comprising a four-sided metaltube; a plurality of upwardly extending first side posts, each of saidfirst side posts comprising a four-sided metal tube, each of said firstside posts being interconnected with one of said first plurality oflower connecting members; wherein for each of said first side posts andsaid interconnected one of said first plurality of lower connectingmembers, one of said first side post and said interconnected one of saidfirst plurality of lower connecting members has a reduced end portion ofcomplementary shape to a cross-sectional shape of said first side post,said reduced end portion being inserted into the other of said firstside post and said interconnected one of said first plurality of lowerconnecting members; said system further comprising: a second baselaterally spaced apart from said first base; a second plurality of lowerconnecting members attached to said second base and extending upwardlytherefrom, each of said second plurality of lower connecting memberscomprising a four-sided metal tube, each of said second plurality oflower connecting members being aligned with one of said first pluralityof said lower connecting members; a plurality of upwardly extendingsecond side posts, each of said second side post comprising a four-sidedmetal tube, each of said second side post being interconnected with oneof said second plurality of lower connecting members; wherein for eachof said second side posts and said interconnected one of said secondplurality of lower connecting members, one of said second side post andsaid interconnected one of said second plurality of lower connectingmembers has a reduced end portion of complementary shape to across-sectional shape of said second side post, said reduced end portionbeing inserted into the other of said second side post and saidinterconnected one of said second plurality of lower connecting members.64. The system as recited in claim 63, further comprising: a pluralityof bridge members, each of said bridge members extending between andinterconnecting one of said first side posts and an aligned one of saidsecond side posts.
 65. A system for framing a structure composing: aplurality of first side posts, each of said first side posts comprisinga four-sided metal tube; a plurality of second side posts laterallyspaced from said first side posts, each of said second side postscomprising a four-sided metal tube and being substantially aligned withone of said first side posts; a plurality of bridge members, each ofsaid bridge members being interconnected to one of said first side postsand interconnected to an aligned one of said second side posts; whereinfor each of said first side posts and said interconnected one of saidbridge members, one of said first side post and said interconnected oneof said bridge members has a reduced end portion of complementary shapeto a cross-sectional shape of said first side post and a cross-sectionalshape of said bridge member, said reduced end portion being insertedinto the other of said first side post and said interconnected one ofsaid bridge members; wherein for each of said second side posts and saidinterconnected one of said bridge members, one of said second side postand said interconnected one of said bridge members has a reduced endportion of complementary shape to a cross-sectional shape of said secondside post and said cross-sectional shape of said interconnected one ofsaid bridge members, said reduced end portion being inserted into theother of said second side post and said interconnected one of saidbridge members.
 66. A system for framing a structure comprising: aplurality of first side posts, each of said first side posts comprisinga four-sided metal tube; a plurality of second side posts laterallyspaced from said first side posts, each of said second side postscomprising a four-sided metal tube and being substantially aligned withone of said first side posts; a plurality of laterally extendingmembers, each of said laterally extending members being formed from atleast one four-sided metal tube and interconnected to one of said firstside posts and interconnected to an aligned one of said second sideposts; wherein for each of said first side posts and said interconnectedone of said laterally extending members, one of said first side post andsaid interconnected one of said laterally extending members has areduced end portion of complementary shape to a cross-sectional shape ofsaid first side post and a cross-sectional shape of said laterallyextending member, said reduced end portion being inserted into the offerof said first side post and said interconnected one of said laterallyextending members; wherein for each of said second side posts and saidinterconnected one of said laterally extending members, one of saidsecond side post and said interconnected one of said laterally extendingmembers has a reduced end portion of complementary shape to across-sectional shape of said second side post and said cross-sectionalshape of said interconnected one of said laterally extending members,said reduced end portion being inserted into the other of said secondside post and said interconnected one of said laterally extendingmembers.
 67. A system for framing a structure comprising: a plurality ofbridge members, each of said bridge members including a peak and firstand second rafters, said peak being interconnected with said first andsaid second rafters, said peak and said first and second rafters eachcomprising a four-sided metal tube; wherein for each of said peaks andsaid interconnected one of said first rafters, one of said peak and saidinterconnected one of said first rafters has a reduced end portion ofcomplementary shape to a cross-sectional shape of said peak and across-sectional shape of said first rafter, said reduced end portionbeing inserted into the other of said peak and said interconnected oneof said first rafters; wherein for each of said peaks and saidinterconnected one of said second rafters, one of said peak and saidinterconnected one of said second rafters has a reduced end portion ofcomplementary shape to said cross-sectional shape of said peak and across-sectional shape of said second rafter, said reduced end portionbeing inserted into the other of said peak and said interconnected oneof said second rafters.
 68. A system for constructing at least one wallframe for framing at least a portion of a structure having a foundation,said system comprising a plurality of interconnectable components toform the wall frame, said interconnectable components including: atleast one base, said at least one base being attachable to thefoundation of the structure; a plurality of lower connecting membersextendable upwardly from said at least one base, each of said lowerconnecting members comprising a four-sided metal tube; a plurality ofsupport members, each of said support members comprising a four-sidedmetal tube, each of said support members being interconnectable with oneof said lower connecting members and extendable upwardly therefrom,wherein for each of said support members and said interconnectable oneof said lower connecting members, one of said support member and saidinterconnectable one of said lower connecting members has a reduced endportion of complementary shape to a cross-sectional shape of saidsupport member and which is insertable into the other of said supportmember and said interconnectable one of said lower connecting members tosnugly fit within.
 69. The system as recited in claim 68, wherein: saidlower connecting members are attached to said at least one base; said atleast one base includes an upper surface and said lower connectingmembers are substantially perpendicular to said upper surface of said atleast one base.
 70. A system for framing a structure comprising: aplurality of bridge members, each of said bridge members including apeak and first and second rafters, said peak being interconnectable withsaid first and second rafters, said peak and said first and secondrafters each comprising a four-sided metal tube; wherein for each ofsaid peaks and said interconnectable one of said first rafters, one ofsaid peak and said interconnectable one of said first rafters has areduced end portion of complementary shape to a cross-sectional shape ofsaid peak and a cross-sectional shape of said first rafter, said reducedend portion being insertable into the other of said peak and saidinterconnectable one of said first rafters; wherein for each of saidpeaks and said interconnectable one of said second rafters, one of saidpeak and said interconnectable one of said second rafters has a reducedend portion of complementary shape to said cross-sectional shape of saidpeak and a cross-sectional shape of said second rafter, said reduced endportion being insertable into the other of said peak and saidinterconnectable one of said second rafters.
 71. A system forconstructing at least one wall frame for framing at least a portion of astructure having a foundation, said system comprising a plurality ofinterconnectable components to form the wall frame, saidinterconnectable components including: at least one base, said at leastone base being attachable to the foundation of the structure; aplurality of lower connecting members extendable upwardly from said atleast one base, each of said lower connecting members comprising afour-sided metal tube; a plurality of support members, each of saidsupport members comprising a four-sided metal tube, each of said supportmembers being interconnectable with one of said lower connecting membersand extendable upwardly therefrom, wherein for each of said supportmembers and said interconnectable one of said lower connecting members,one of said support member and said interconnectable one of said lowerconnecting members has a reduced end portion which is insertable intothe other of said support member and said interconnectable one of saidlower connecting members to snugly fit within.
 72. The system as recitedin claim 71, wherein: said lower connecting members are attached to saidat least one base; said at least one base includes an upper surface andsaid lower connecting members are substantially perpendicular to saidupper surface of said at least one base.
 73. A system for framing astructure comprising: a plurality of bridge members, each of said bridgemembers including a peak and first and second rafters, said peak beinginterconnectable with said first and second rafters, said peak and saidfirst and second rafters each comprising a four-sided metal tube;wherein for each of said peaks and said interconnectable one of saidfirst rafters, one of said peak and said interconnectable one of saidfirst rafters has a reduced end portion which is insertable into theother of said peak and said interconnectable one of said first rafters;wherein for each of said peaks and said interconnectable one of saidsecond rafters, one of said peak and said interconnectable one of saidsecond rafters has a reduced end portion which is insertable into theother of said peak and said interconnectable one of said second rafters.74. A system for framing a structure comprising: a plurality of firstside posts, each of said first side posts comprising a four-sided metaltube; a plurality of second side posts laterally spaced from said firstside posts, each of said second side posts comprising a four-sided metaltube and being substantially aligned with one of said first side posts;a plurality of bridge members, each of said bridge members being made offour-sided metal tubing, and each of said bridge members beinginterconnected to one of said first side posts and interconnected to analigned one of said second side posts; wherein for each of said firstside posts and said interconnected one of said bridge members, one ofsaid first side post and said interconnected one of said bridge membershas a reduced end portion which is inserted into the other of said firstside post and said interconnected one of said bridge members; whereinfor each of said second side posts and said interconnected one of saidbridge members, one of said second side post and said interconnected oneof said bridge members has a reduced end portion which is inserted intothe other of said second side post and said interconnected one of saidbridge members.